Outdoor Advertising
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department) is responsible for controlling ODA signs on the National and State highway systems. The Department must control the location, size, height, spacing and lighting of ODA signs but
has no authority to regulate the content of advertising messages on the signs. The Outdoor Advertising regulatory program is based on federal law and regulations as well as state statute and rule. Federal law is set forth in the
Highway Beautification Act while federal regulations can be found at 23 C.F.R., Section 750. State laws are found in Chapter 479, Florida Statutes. In addition to the state statutes, the Department writes administrative rules to interpret
the intent of the statute for the general public. Chapter 14-10, Florida Administrative Code, is the Department's rule chapter which governs outdoor advertising. Copies of the complete rule chapter may be obtained from the Outdoor Advertising Office.
Local governments often have their own ordinances which regulate outdoor advertising in their community. The Department cannot issue a permit for an outdoor advertising sign which is not allowed by local ordinances.
Outdoor Advertising information is available from the Outdoor Advertising database. The database, featuring a search option for current permits, sign locations and other information, can be accessed at:
Please visit our Documents and Publications page to download forms
and applications related to outdoor advertising.
All renewal payments and forms relating to the Outdoor Advertising regulatory program are to be sent to:
Outdoor Advertising Office
Florida Department of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street, Mail Station 22
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450
Phone: (850) 414-4601 Fax: (850) 414-4850
General questions
about the outdoor advertising program or policies and procedures may be directed to Kenneth Pye at kenneth.pye@dot.state.fl.us, (850) 414-4555.